-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- More than 1 million cancer deaths could be prevented around the world if more nations , particularly low - and middle-income countries , implemented known strategies targeting such deaths , two international groups say .

It 's doable , according to the Union for International Cancer Control and International Agency for Research on Cancer , if countries adopt measures to meet the `` 25 by 25 '' targets the World Health Organization set last year . The targets aim to reduce premature deaths due to noncommunicable diseases by 25 % by 2025 .

Cancer deaths total about 7.6 million worldwide each year . Of those , 4 million are in people ages 30 to 69 -- defined as `` premature '' by the two cancer organizations .

`` With the right strategies , at least 30 % of -LRB- all -RRB- cancer cases can be prevented based on current knowledge , '' according to the Union for International Cancer Control .

The groups made the announcement Monday , the eighth World Cancer Day . The Union for International Cancer Control -- the largest nongovernmental cancer-fighting organization with more than 760 partners in 155 countries -- organized the day to raise awareness among individuals and governments about cancer and cancer prevention .

More than 450 events were held to raise awareness Monday , the group said .

This year 's theme : to highlight and dispel myths and misconceptions about cancer , including that it is a `` disease of the wealthy , elderly and developed countries , '' according to the organization . In reality , cancer affects those of all ages and income levels worldwide .

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In fact , `` more -LRB- cancer -RRB- deaths occur in lower and middle-income countries , than in high-income high cancer countries , even though there are twice as many cases in high-income countries , '' said Peter Boyle , president of the International Prevention Research Institute in Lyon , France .

Boyle is the main author of World Breast Cancer Report 2012 , which was published by the institute and funded by Susan G. Komen for the Cure . It was released Monday .

According to his report , more than 1.6 million women worldwide will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year , compared with about 641,000 in 1980 . More than 425,000 will die from the disease each year .

`` I was shocked by some of the things we found , '' Boyle said , adding he believes there are various reasons why women in poorer countries are diagnosed late .

Lack of treatment is one . He cites an example : In Bangladesh , there is one trained oncologist for 150 million people .

There 's also a lot of stigma preventing women from seeking treatment . `` It 's a very , very sad thing , '' Boyle said .

For example , in Kenya and Uganda , 100 % of women seek help with advanced or metastatic breast cancer , said Boyle . Metastatic breast cancer means the cancer has spread to other parts of the body ; advanced breast cancer means it 's the most advanced stage of breast cancer that has not spread outside the breast . In both cases , a late diagnosis can impede efforts toward a cure .

By comparison , the report said , `` It is calculated that less than 10 % of the breast cancer patients in the U.S. are diagnosed with LABC -LRB- locally advanced breast cancer -RRB- . Women in the United States are not immune from late diagnoses . ''

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Julie Gerberding , a former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , on Monday addressed the Global Women 's Cancer Summit in Washington , a gathering the Komen Foundation hosted .

She described three women who died from cancer , either because they did n't know they had the disease or did n't take advantage of screening . They were her aunts , she said , and lived in the United States . Two had breast cancer , and one had cervical cancer .

Gerberding said it 's a problem `` from Arkansas all the way to Zimbabwe . ''

`` We must get better at implementing what we already know , '' said Gerberding , who is now president of Merck Vaccines .

The summit launched its own `` 25 '' goal : to improve breast cancer survival and quality of life in 2.5 million women living in low - and middle-income countries by 2025 .

So much could be done , Boyle said , if existing prevention screening techniques such as mammography and breast self-exams were used and existing treatments were available .

He quoted the popular Nike slogan `` just do it . ''

`` If every woman in the world had adequate knowledge of breast cancer , had access to early diagnostic programs , had access to high-quality diagnostic services and -LRB- was -RRB- treated according to the most appropriate protocol for their particular disease , then breast cancer mortality would drop rapidly and significantly and have a profound effect on global women 's health , '' according to the breast cancer report .

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Using what we already know can help prevent cancer deaths , experts say

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Monday was the eighth World Cancer Day

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Organizers aimed to dispel myths about cancer

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It 's a problem `` from Arkansas to Zimbabwe , '' one expert says